The 5 best songs of 2024 so far

We’re officially halfway through the year and there are already a wealth of excellent tracks to delve into. Whether you’re still following Green Day savior or leaning into standalone singles like Blondshell and Bully’s fiery collaboration, there’s nothing better than connecting with a song that seems to fit every mood. In the same vein as last week’s fan poll, where we asked readers to name the best albums of the year, here are the best songs of 2024 so far. These are their top picks, ranked accordingly below.

Read more: The 25 best albums of 2024 so far

5. What happened so far – “Letterman”

Over the years, The story so far have moved further and further away from their pop-punk roots, and “Letterman” shows how far they have evolved. Released early in I want to disappearthe song takes a similar approach to “Clairvoyant” by exploring softer territory. Parker Cannon trades his angry, overly articulate delivery for a softer approach, making it a great contrast to some of the other bangers on the record (“Big Blind,” “You’re Still In My Way”) and a great showcase of the band’s continued maturity and depth.

4. Bring Me the Horizon – “Kool-Aid”

Following the departure of Jordan Fish at the end of last year bring me The Horizon promised “new music coming very soon,” and our readers didn’t have to wait long. The result was “Kool-Aid,” the sixth single from her long-awaited follow-up to 2020’s POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL MODE. As the album reflects modern digital abundance, “Kool-Aid” is another pop-metal highlight, quickly ramping up to haunting choruses, intoxicating breakdowns and vocals that feel like they’re straight out of Forever — and rounded off by a brilliant solo by Lee Malia.

3. Thursday – “Request for release of the dream”

Although Thursday Despite touring frequently since 2016, they have yet to release any new music – and would only do so if it was “truly inspired and added a new dimension to the band”. In April, however, the post-hardcore veterans broke the seal by releasing “Application For Release From the Dream”, their first new song in 13 years. Needless to say, the song delivers on their promise. Produced by current touring bassist (and Geoff Rickly’s bandmate in No Devotion) Stu Richardson, it contains both the atmospheric brilliance of No devolución while from the bridge onwards they introduce the screamo tendencies of the band from the 2000s.

2. Twenty One Pilots – “Vignette”

twenty-one pilots‘ Clancy is a highlight of the year for many of our readers, and they were particularly captivated by “Vignette.” Appearing in the first half of the album, the song deals with the torments of addiction, although Tyler Joseph admits there are several different interpretations. Throughout the album, the duo blend their many different eras by incorporating rap, reggae, indie rock, and more, but this time they experiment with incorporating strings. The result is stunning, enhanced by a synth breakdown near the final chorus that makes the song a total hit.

1. Knocked Loose – “Suffocate” (feat. Poppy)

Released are having a great year, so it’s no surprise that “Suffocate” took first place. As an early preview of You don’t leave before you shouldthe song features the Kentucky Crew with the post-genre Shapeshifter Poppy for one of their best collaborations yet. The transition from Poppy’s whispery chanting to intense shrieking is a shocking turning point, but oddly works, buoyed by the band’s wild breakdown. Clearly the collaboration encouraged Knocked Loose to push boundaries, and it remains a highlight of the new album.